UX Design Moving Forward: Augmented Reality (AR)

A primary focus of UX Design is simplicity. But, a common misconception is the ‘simplicity’ of UX. Truthfully, the techniques within UX Design are not as simple as it seems.

It is nearly impossible to design a product that will be equally relevant and comfortable to use for everyone. Existing technologies featuring UX Design allow for more personal experiences depending on each person’s individual needs. UX Design creates limitless capabilities for everyone through one design. UX Design is practiced through many techniques we have touched on in class, such as conducting user interviews, creating personas, sketching possible solutions, and building prototypes.

Common Problems Within UX Design

-Not spending enough time on the user

-Jumping to one solution too quickly

-Distracted by visuals

-Trying to do too much with one design

“A good designer comes up with solutions that work. But a great designer can clearly describe his process, explain why each part of it is important to a given project and articulate the thoughts, ideas and choices made along the way.” (UX Planet)

Here is a video that elaborates on the importance of understanding user needs and designing intuitive user journeys that solve real user issues.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LskLyDOSfAc 

Upcoming Opportunities within UX 

UX Design is not going away anytime soon. One up and coming topic UX designers are getting ready for is the screenless world of Augmented Reality.

AR is a live view of a real-world environment, generated by computed perceptual information. One great example of AR is Pokemon Go. Rather than the concept of Virtual Reality, AR is simply a combination of virtual and actual reality. Although AR has a long way to come before acting as our central technology for interactions, UX Design furthers the opportunities within AR.

Before AR solutions become technically developed, UX designers are a key component in the process in order to define what part of the system can and should be augmented.

Challenges Derived From Combining UX and AR

-Everything has a potential to be an interface

-Satisfaction level is higher, stakes rise

-Considering Gen Z

UX and AR Moving Forward

It’s important to consider Generation Z, the biggest share of the US population at 25.9%, and likely to be one-third of America’s population by 2020. These users were born with iPads, use smartphones more than ever before, are passionate about being entrepreneurs, and commonly have the idea to create and shape culture rather than just act as consumers.

There are many characteristics of Generation Z kids that are vital to consider while creating UX interfaces moving forward. Gen Z kids learned how to unlock an iPad before learning how to walk. Thus, gen Z kids are capable of learning anything by themselves and are used to being creative and designing their experiences. Gen Z is the most diverse and accepting generation yet but is also seen as 'too lazy'. 

A Few Questions Worth Contemplating

1. What part of a system can and/or should be augmented?

2. Who should be the end user of the AR experience, employees or customers?  

3. Could AR/VR save Gen Z from laziness?

4. In what ways can you see AR/VR going too far?

5. What are some potential repercussions within AR/VR that are worth considering?

Sources

https://uxplanet.org/confessions-of-a-ux-designer-5b101438eb05

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LskLyDOSfAc

https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/uxdesign/ux-design-trends-for-2018-shaping-the-way-we-interact/